Bill Webb Sample file - Wargame Vaultwatermark.wargamevault.com/pdf_previews/89853-sample.pdf · 2018. 4. 28. · frontier fort on the coast, Madaro-Shanti was the most powerful ...

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AuthorScott Casper

DevelopersBill Webb

ProducerBill Webb

EditorBill Webb

Layout and ProductionCharles A. Wright

Front Cover ArtRowena Aitken

Interior ArtMatt Finch, public domain

CartographyMatt Finch and Sean Stone

Credits

Frog God

Gamestough

adventures for tough

players

©2010 Bill Webb, Frog God Games and Scott Casper. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden. Frog God Games, Frog God Games. and the Frog God Games logo, One Night Staands: Jungle Ruins of Madaro-Shanti is a trademark of Frog God Games and Scott Casper. All rights re-served. All characters, names, places, items, art and text herein are copyrighted by Frog God Games, Inc. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned.Sam

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Table of ContentsIntroduction ............................................................................... p. 4The Ruins .................................................................................. p. 10The Palace ................................................................................. p. 16The Dungeon ............................................................................. p. 21Appendix ................................................................................... p. 28New Monsters Appendix ............................................................... p. 29Legal Appendix ........................................................................... p. 30

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Referee BackgroundA century ago or more, when the town of Cholagadi was just a

frontier fort on the coast, Madaro-Shanti was the most powerful city-state in the entire Ambicuaria Jungle. Its citizens were highly advanced in the arts of magic, and even retained some vestiges of magical quasi-technologies perhaps more ancient than humankind itself. Their prosperity made for jealous enemies, none more covetous than the powerful and sorcerous Kiengaa Tribe of the deep jungles. The Kiengaa plotted against Madaro-Shanti, making dark pacts with the monstrous ape-centaurs known as the Borsin, and with the monkey-faced, snake-like monsters known as the Hanu-Naga. Once this terrible, unnatural army was gathered, the Kiengaa and their allies laid siege to Madaro-Shanti itself.

As the walls of Madaro-Shanti fell, and the invaders swarmed into the city, the high priest of the city closed himself within the royal shrine, praying to all the gods for intervention. Yet none of the gods answered his prayers until the last – and that was Ojala, whom the people of Madaro-Shanti knew as a god of evil and treachery. A deadly bargain was struck that night, and true to his promise, Ojala caused a horrible wasting disease to strike the besieging army. But the full extent of the evil god’s treachery became clear when the surviving people of Madaro-Shanti themselves began to succumb to the same disease which had slain their enemies. Within a fortnight, all the people of Madaro-Shanti had either died of the plague or scattered into the depths of the predator-filled jungle.

In only a few years, the city was overgrown by the jungle and fell into ruin, but the magical disease was to have one final consequence. Not only did the contagion affect the Kiengaa and the Madaro-Shanti – it also infected the mind of a powerful nature-spirit that inhabited the surrounding jungles. The nature-spirit Cho-Odaa, driven mad by the disease and hungry for vengeance against all humankind, has discovered the means to exact a terrible reckoning (see PLAYER BACKGROUND and “THE STORM BASIN” at the end of the module).

Player BackgroundThe port city of Chologadi lies in the tropical southern lands,

on the perilous coastline of a dark, jungle-shrouded continent. It is a town of explorers, trappers, and traders, making tenuous alliances with the civilized tribes of the region, but also forced to battle off raids by savages and cannibals, who inhabit the region in hordes. In recent weeks, a new threat has appeared to endanger

the town’s precarious existence on these dangerous coasts. Within the jungle, trappers and hunters have encountered a spreading pall of black clouds and roiling fog, a terrible phenomenon that causes death and rot as it slowly expands. The dark clouds are now only thirty miles from the town itself, and advancing at a rate of perhaps two miles in a day. The town’s livelihood has been brought to its knees; trading has virtually stopped, and there are no living animals left to hunt, for all are fleeing. The town leaders have offered great rewards to anyone who can discover the source of this threat and end it, for it is terribly clear what will happen to the town itself if the cloud should reach its walls. Thus far, however, no one who has taken up the challenge has returned from the tangled depths of the jungle. In a final attempt to combat the threat at its source, the town has outfitted everything that is needed for a full-scale expedition – all that is needed is a brave party of adventurers to lead it.

Referee NotesThe Ruins of the City of Madaro-Shanti contain four important

adventure areas: the Gatehouse, the Plaza Well, the Palace, and the Dungeons below the Palace; the secret to the black death-cloud is to be found in the Dungeons. It is possible for the players to bypass the Gatehouse and the Plaza Well and still reach the bottom of the dungeons, but the rooms under the Plaza Well allow the players to open areas of the Dungeons that cannot otherwise be reached without breaking down stone walls.

The Appendices at the end of the module detail the “Expedition Outfit” of hirelings and other supplies which the city will provide to the adventurers. In addition to the normal benefits of support personnel, such as carrying loot and lanterns, the hirelings in the expedition will also be able to decipher some of the ancient Madaro-Shanti language, which is likely to be very useful. The players may choose whether or not to bring along the entire outfit, parts of it, or no extra support at all.

Because there are many places in the adventure where the characters may have to do some climbing, you are encouraged to consider allowing a thief character class, or something like it. If you choose not to allow that class or have nothing similar in use in your campaign, it is recommended that you use the following guidelines for any characters attempting to climb:

Armored characters - 1 in 6 chanceUnarmored characters - 2 in 6 chanceUnarmored characters, using climbing gear (grappling hooks,

spikes, belays, etc.) - 3 in 6 chance Any unsuccessful check means the character made it halfway

before falling.It is recommended that all characters be assumed able to swim

IntroductionA FROG GOD GAMES ADvENTURE FOR CHARACTER lEvElS 4-7

Jungle Ruins of Madaro-Shanti is a Frog God Games adventure for a party of 4-8 characters of fourth through seventh level. like other Swords & Wizardry resources, it is compatible

with the most out-of-print roleplaying games (Original, Basic, Expert, and Advanced). Some of the monsters found in this module were previously published in Mythmere Games’

Monster Book, but these are described at the end of the module in case you don’t own a copy.

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unless wearing metal armor. Unless magically aided, characters should only be able to hold their breath for 1d3 minutes before losing consciousness. In 5 minutes after losing consciousness, the character will drown if still under water.

There is no effect to remaining in the cloud for up to three days. However, if a person remains within the cloud more than three days, he must begin making saving throws once every six hours. If he fails the saving throw he begins to lose one hit point per hour while in the cloud.

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RumorsThe town of Chologadi is talking about nothing but the approaching

black clouds, and many people are packing up their belongings to flee. The players cannot avoid learning that everyone suspects the clouds to originate in the ruins of an ancient city about fifteen to twenty miles into the jungle. The ruins have always been considered to be cursed, and the clouds seem to center upon the area where the city is said to be.

Each character will also start the scenario having heard one of the “Basic Rumors” below (roll 1d6 for each, do not re-roll duplicate results). Players who make any effort to learn more about Madaro-Shanti before their expedition to the ruins (or upon returning to civilization in the course of the scenario) can roll for an additional rumor (roll 1d12 using both tables together). If they spread some money around, they will receive all of the basic rumors, and may roll

for additional “Uncommon Rumors” (roll 1d8+6 on the table) at a rate of about 10gp per rumor.

Basic Rumors1) A people called the Madaro-Shanti once lived in a jungle city twenty miles or so from Cholagadi. The city is the reason why the jungles are called “Madaro-Shanti.” A curse drove them out long ago, and only their empty villages remain. (Mostly true)2) The dark cloud is not dangerous as long as you don’t stay in it for several days. (True)3) It was only five years ago that the dark cloud cover over Madaro-Shanti was first observed, but there have always been rumors that the area is cursed. The dark clouds have been spreading slowly ever since. (True)4) A ruined stone road leads to the ruins, but the jungles have grown past the place where the road begins. However, a well-paid guide

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introductioncan lead the adventurers to the place where the road starts. (True)5) The vegetation has all died in the ruins of the jungle city, and yet some appears to be alive in undeath. (False)6) Beware of the monkeys in the ruins. (True)

Uncommon Rumors7) Only tombs remain intact in the ruins. (False)8) The heads look outward to reveal their secrets. (True).9) The people of Madaro-Shanti spoke a language that is similar, but not completely identical to the language of the tribes around Chologadi. (True, and this ought to warn the players that a Read languages spell or a native guide could be useful)10) The ancient people of Madaro-Shanti were more advanced than most people today know and had magic at least as great as ours. (True)11) The people of Madaro-Shanti worshiped the wrathful Iron God and he was the source of their curse. (False)12) The gatehouse in the ruins might open more than just a gate. (True)13) Since before the dark clouds, the nature spirits have been in tur-moil, speaking rumors about their brother Cho-Oda and the disease that afflicts him. (True)14) There is an old saying about Madaro-Shanti: “The Well Moves the Walls” (True)

Reaching the RuinsThe easiest way to reach the ruins of Madaro-Shanti, other than

flying, is to take the old road which leads to the city from a spot about a mile deep into the jungle. The road is constructed of great stone blocks sunken deep into the ground, occasionally winding its way past large stone statues, most broken, overgrown with vines, or badly cracked. In many places the road has been buckled and ruptured by magical earthquakes during the siege of Madaro-Shanti, and it is mostly overgrown with jungle vegetation. Because of these obstacles, it will take three full days to travel the twenty miles to the ruined city, even with the benefit of the road. Trying to hack through the jungle without using the road lengthens the expedition to five full days.

Whatever pathway the characters take into the Madaro-Shanti, as soon as they enter the dark, roiling fog they will note that the vegetation is diseased and dying, and that all sounds of wildlife – birdcalls in particular – have ceased. The remainder of the trip will be an eerie journey through silence and darkness.

Should the adventurers approach Madaro-Shanti by way of the ruined road, their first sight of the city will be the ruined gatehouse that once protected the city gates (see, “THE GATEHOUSE” below). Adventurers approaching the ruined city by any other route will first see the partially collapsed city walls and or the surrounding jungle environs.

Wandering Monsters in the Jungle and the Ruins

There is a 2 in 6 chance of a wandering monster encounter per six hours spent in the jungle (not applicable if the party flies overhead). Roll 1d8 on the following table for results: Roll Encounter 1 1d12 ghoul monkeys (day) or 2d10 ghoul monkeys (night) 2 1d8 giant ants 3 1d8 borsin (day only) or 1d12 giant vampire bats (night only) 4 1d6 spire monkeys (day only) or 1d4 greater bats (night only) 5 1d8 giant (small) centipedes 6 1d4 giant (small) spiders (day only) or 1d6 zombies (night only) 7-8 Special Encounter: roll or determine the result using the SPECIAL ENCOUNTERS section below.

Borsin: HD 4; AC 6 [13]; Atk 2 claws (1d4) and 1 bite (1d3); Save 13; Move 15; CL/XP 4/120; Special: Hug and rend (2d6 dmg if both claws hit). Ghoul Monkeys: HD 1d6 hp; AC 8 [11]; Atk 1 bite (1d6) or 1 thrown rock (1d4); Save 18; Move 9 (12 in trees); CL/XP 1/15; Special: Immune to sleep, charm, and hold spells.Giant Ants: HD 2; AC 3 [16]; Atk 1 bite (1d6); Save 16; Move 18; CL/XP 2/30; Special: None.Giant Vampire Bats: HD 1; AC 8 [11]; Atk 1 bite (1d6); Save 17; Move 4, 18 (fly); CL/XP 3/60; Special: Sucks 1d6 blood automatically after hit.Greater Bats: HD 4; AC 7 [12]; Atk 1 bite (1d10); Save 13; Move 4, 18 (fly); CL/XP 5/240; Special: None.Giant (small) Centipedes: HD 1d2 hp; AC 9 [10]; Atk 1 bite (0); Save 18; Move 13; CL/XP 2/30; Special: Lethal poison, +4 to save.Giant (small) Spiders: HD 1+1; AC 8 [11]; Atk 1 bite (1 hp + poison); Save 17; Move 9; CL/XP 3/60; Special: Poison (+2 save or die).Spire Monkeys: HD 2; AC 7 [12]; Atk 3 claws (1d3); Save 16; Move 15; CL/XP 2/30; Special: None.Zombies: HD 2; AC 8 [11]; Atk 1 weapon (1d8); Save 16; Move 6; CL/XP 2/30; Special: Immune to sleep and charm.

Special EncountersAs a nature-spirit, Cho-Oda’s awareness reaches beyond his lair, and

when he discerns the presence of the characters approaching the ruins, he will attempt to frighten them off using his spirit-powers. At the same time, other nature spirits are trying to communicate to the party that Cho-Oda should be rescued rather than killed. The result is a strange and mixed set of possible visions, dreams, and actual encounters. If the encounter is in a dream, it will be delayed until the next time the characters sleep. Roll 1d8 for a special encounter, but do not repeat results.

Special Encounter 1The characters encounter a swarm of buzzing, biting flies. Suddenly,

the tone of the buzzing shifts until it sounds more like a deep voice chanting, “Cho-Oda...Cho-Oda...”

Special Encounter 2One of the characters notices a lone antelope in the distance, seemingly

staring straight at him. The character is momentarily transfixed by the staring animal, until the antelope seems to speak to him in a voice that sounds much too close. The voice says, “Beware of Cho-Oda. Rescue Cho-Oda.” Then the antelope falls over. If examined, the antelope is dead and appears to have been dead for days.

Special Encounter 3While sleeping – even if sleeping far away from the ruins, but still

in the jungle – 1d2+1 of the characters have the same dream. In the dream, they are surrounded by a darkness so dense that it seems to be a physical thing surrounding them. Unable to move away, the darkness starts to flow over their bodies. A deep voice says, “Explore too deep, and this will be your fate. So speaks Cho-Oda.”

Special Encounter 4There are several monkeys in sight. At the same time, they all lift

up rocks and begin pounding them on the stones where they sit. More pounding of stone on stone echoes from elsewhere in the ruins. Suddenly, the pounding noise sounds like, “Cho-Oda! Cho-Oda! Cho-Oda! Cho-Oda” Then all the monkeys stop pounding rocks at the same time and go back to normal.

Special Encounter 5One of the characters – most likely a cleric – has a sudden and

momentary vision of a room full of statues (actually Room D21 on

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